• by Wayne Friedman , July 2, 2013

CNN witnessed big news in the second quarter of this year -- less so for MSNBC.  Fox still commands the overwhelming viewership lead among all cable news networks.

Buffeted by big news events -- Boston Marathon bombing, Oklahoma tornados and the Jodi Arias trial -- CNN overtook MSNBC, regaining second place. The improved ratings news also boosted CNN senior executive Jeff Zucker’s portfolio in its push to re-make the longtime cable news network.

For the second-quarter period -- April through June -- Fox gained 12% to 1.2 million viewers in total day programming. CNN had a massive 50% gain to land a still distant second-place -- 476,000, moving up and over MSNBC. That network witnessed a 9% decline to stop at 361,000, now in fourth place -- to some of its lowest rating levels in some five years.

CNN’s sister network, HLN, also posted big numbers -- up 62% to 393,000, good for third place.
Fox also still leads in key 25-54 news viewers, but the gap is much smaller. That network was down 6% to 240,000; CNN was next 70% higher to 162,000. HLN was nearly 50% higher to 142,000. MSNBC was down 5% to 123,000.

Similar results were found in the Monday through Friday prime-time periods: Fox inched up 3% to 2.2 million in total viewers; CNN rocketed 56% to 733,000; MSNBC, losing steeply at 19%, coming at 660,000; HLN also had a big added numbers, 75% more to 569,000.

Prime-time 25-54 viewers had major changes. Fox lost 12% to be at 386,000; CNN added a big 76% to get to 250,000. HLN was just ahead of MSNBC at 197,000, adding a big 74%, while MSNBC was at 196,000, off 14% .